Proverbs 31:10-31.
In considering this portion of Scripture there are various lessons to be learned from it, whether in its application to us individually, or as presenting the relationship of Israel and the church to Christ. The man in Scripture generally depicts the position given us by God, but the woman indicates the state or condition belonging to the position. It is also of interest to observe that these verses are given in an acrostic form, verse 10 beginning with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the succeeding verses commencing with the other letters in alphabetical order.
Proverbs 31:10 (Aleph). "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." The word virtuous here has the sense of devoted and thrifty; she is a woman with a high regard for the position she occupies by reason of her relationship with her husband. We might well, in the light of this, ask ourselves, How much do we realize and value the high dignity conferred upon us as having been brought into association with Christ? and how much are we concerned with His interests during His absence as being completely devoted to Him? The price of one so devoted is above the price of rubies.
Proverbs 31:11 (Beth). "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." The church as a responsible witness to Christ has proved a sad failure; she has neglected His affairs; but although there has been this collective failure, Christ looks to each one of us individually to be faithful to Him, with His heart safely trusting that we shall seek only what concerns Him.
Proverbs 31:12 (Gimel). "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." Even early in the history of the church, the Apostle Paul wrote: "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's" (Phil. 2:21). How much of our own interests fill our minds and occupy so much of our time; and how little we seek what is for the good and profit of His interests. And are we not sometimes associated with what brings loss to His interests and to ourselves rather than gain? It was not so with the virtuous woman.
Proverbs 31:13 (Daleth). "She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands." This loving service was for the whole household. Her seeking suggests the exercise to obtain what her willing hands could convert into suitable material for use in her household. Think of the amount of labour of hand and the time involved in spinning this raw material into a yarn for making garments. Oh that like her, we might ever be watchful in devoted service to others because they are Christ's, and because our service is for Him.
Proverbs 31:14 (He). "She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar." Food is a necessity for any household, and its variety and presentation stimulates the appetite; and the merchants' ships bring food in quantity and variety from other lands. It is by being in touch with the One who is in the glory that we can procure the rich variety of heavenly food for the saints, and the Spirit of God enables what is thus procured to be presented in a fresh and profitable way to meet the needs and satisfy the desires of God's people.
Proverbs 31:15 (Vau). "She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens." Rising before the dawn, her household is fed, to commence work with the daylight. This is the opposite from the slothfulness and self-indulgence that sleeps beyond the needs of the body. Many true servants of God have, like this woman, valued each hour, spending their time in seeking food for the saints to sustain them for the Christian life. She was also concerned about her maidens, planning the day's work that they might be usefully employed. How much of our thought and energy are given regarding the things of Christ each day?
Proverbs 31:16 (Zain). "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard." Are we not rebuked by the diligence of this woman? As she considers this field she discerns its possibilities as a vineyard, that which will produce fruit for the one she loves, and there is nothing spasmodic about her labour. Should our considerations on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ be any less than this? Should we not be constantly on the watch to procure and to plant that which will bear fruit for the pleasure of the Lord? This is what saints of earlier days have done, giving up their own interests for Christ's, in affection for Him.
Proverbs 31:17 (Cheth). "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms." Strength marked all her activities and service. Our blessed Lord, as recorded in John 13 girded Himself with a linen towel and washed His disciples' feet, giving them in this an example to "wash one another's feet" All our movements and service will be marked by divine strength as we are occupied with the Lord, and as we abide in Him and He in us.
Proverbs 31:18 (Teth). "She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night." We must have the conviction that what we are offering to others is good, being fully persuaded of it. It has been said that the world sets forth its fiction as though it were true, while many speak of the things of the Lord, His truth, as though they were fiction. This latter will mark us if we are not in the good of the things of which we speak. Nor can we for one moment allow the light to he obscured, the light that illumines the path of the children of light, and is to be reflected iii our walk and ways.
Proverbs 31:19 (Yod). "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff." How much time and labour are involved in constantly pulling out and straightening of the fibres to produce a thread in a continuous length to be used for knitting garments or weaving cloth. The distaff is a cleft stick which holds the wool or linen, and the spindle is used to produce the twist in the continuous length of thread. This is a long and painstaking occupation; but this woman, in her great love for her husband and household, was prepared to spend these long hours to have the necessary materials ready for making garments for them. How much time do we spend studying the Word of God, comparing Scripture with Scripture, so that when the occasion arises we have something that can be of service to God's people?
Proverbs 31:20 (Caph). "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." Not content with serving the needs of her household, this large-hearted woman cares also for the needs of the poor. It is so easy for us to be wholly concerned with the needs of a particular circle, and to forget the needy all around. Nor is this only a matter of temporal needs, but also of the spiritual needs of those who have not been blessed with the blessings of the Gospel of God.
Proverbs 31:21 (Lamed). "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet." Unless the body is well protected against the snows and cold winds of winter there can be serious results; but winter held no fears for this woman, for all in her household were clothed with scarlet, like those in the king's house. Often have we to face the winter, the trying times of life; and how good it is for us when loving hands have provided for us the garments that enable us to withstand the wintry blast.
Proverbs 31:22 (Mem). "She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple." Her own tapestries adorned the house of this virtuous woman, who cared not only for the garments of her household but for the needy. Does the moral beauty of Christ adorn our homes, and do we labour that this same moral excellence should mark those who form the house of God? Silk, as used here, is the "fine linen" of which the tabernacle was made, the practical righteousness to be manifest in the lives of all the saints. The purple in which the rich were adorned, denoted wealth and dignity; and should not we appear in this world as those whom Christ has made rich, and in the dignity of the calling wherewith we are called?
Proverbs 31:23 (Nun). "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." This dignified woman lived in the consciousness that her husband filled an eminent position, and she sought that nothing about herself or her house would reflect discredit on his honourable position. As knowing the place of glory and honour that belongs to our exalted Lord, should we not seek in all things to reflect His moral perfections in all that we say and do?
Proverbs 31:24 (Samech). "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant." The product of this woman's energy reaches to those without, not only to the poor, but to the merchant. She is able to sell to those who distribute to others. Although limited in our sphere of service because of the separate path to which God has called us, we can thank God that truths given of God have been spread abroad through the writings of those who learned the truth in the path of God's will.
Proverbs 31:25 (Ain). "Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come." Moral strength and divine honour should mark all the saints of God in their practical walk. We should ever be marked with the strength of character that refuses anything that compromises the honoured Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and if trouble comes to us because of this, we can be assured that we shall rejoice in a time to come, for the Lord will honour those who honour Him.
Proverbs 31:26 (Pe). "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Foolish talking and jesting were unknown to her, nor was she engaged in idle gossip or unprofitable conversation; but grace to others was ministered in her words of wisdom. There was nothing hard or stern about her, for kindness flowed from her tongue to all around.
Proverbs 31:27 (Tzade). "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." Many, with David, have had to say: "Although my house be not so with God." How often we excuse our children for things that we would not do ourselves, permitting them to enter into associations at school or at work that are contrary to the ways of the Lord. Eli remonstrated with his sons about their behaviour, but God judged him because he restrained them not. Eating the bread of idleness gets us into mischief of different kinds; the Lord has plenty for each one of us to do for Him.
Proverbs 31:28 (Koph). "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Many have to thank God for the care of a godly mother, and the support of a pious wife. How blessed it is for us to exercise a godly influence upon all in relationship with us, not only naturally, but also upon those to whom we are united in the household of faith.
Proverbs 31:29 (Resh). "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." If Israel failed grievously, and the professing church has dishonoured the precious Name of Christ, it is always open for the individual saint to be true to Christ, and to covet His commendation. What an excellent commendation this virtuous woman received; and how excellent is the commendation of the Lord to those to whom He says: "Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my Word, and hast not denied my Name" (Rev. 3:8). May we covet and seek this commendation from the Lord.
Proverbs 31:30 (Shin). "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." The favour of the world is deceitful, like natural beauty it does not last; but the woman who, in reverential fear, seeks to please the Lord, shall have a satisfying and praiseworthy life. And this is true for us all.
Proverbs 31:31 (Tau). "Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her own works praise her in the gates." Although the professing church has dishonoured the Name of Christ, the true church, the Bride of Christ will be found "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints "(Rev. 19:8). What the grace of Christ has wrought in and through the saints will appear in this beautiful bridal garment in that day. All the material to be woven is laid at the weaver's hand, but the weaving is actually done by the weaver, who shall have full credit for what she has done.
Moreover, it will be seen in that day that the design of perfection and beauty has been woven under the skilful eye of Christ, and only what is of Himself is to be seen in the garment of fine linen. Yet how great the grace that gives credit to the saints for what is of Himself. Every exercise of heart taken up with him will have its place in the garment that is for His eye and His pleasure. And in the day of Christ's display the church will be displayed with Him in glory, "when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (2 Thess. 1:10). Truly then her own works shall "praise her in the gates."
From the consideration of this virtuous woman we can learn what the Lord is looking for in His own at the present time; and as we hear afresh the question, "Who can find a virtuous woman?" shall not our hearts be exercised to answer in some small way to the desire of Christ that in all things we might be for Him
while waiting for His coming?
H. Taberner.